My name is Laurie Sullivan and I am an Ambassador for the Choose Love Movement. I received my elementary teaching degree at The State University of New York at Geneseo, and a Masters Degree in Curriculum with a focus on Special Education in 1990. I began my teaching career in upstate NY, where I taught for many years. I then taught in Wisconsin before moving to Connecticut where I was an elementary teacher in Hebron Public Schools for 12 years before retiring in 2024.

 My teaching philosophy is centered around the belief that all children are unique. They will learn when given support as needed, in an environment where they feel safe and comfortable. From the first day, I emphasized that our classroom is a place for the students to demonstrate respect for themselves and others, as we continuously built our strong classroom community. Social emotional learning was always emphasized as we explored reading, writing, math and the world around us. I spent a lot of time finding ways to incorporate this essential tool into our already busy day.

 I have three children. Jack is 29 and works in sales here in Connecticut. Molly is a 26 year old special education teacher in Boston, Massachusetts. My youngest child, Aydan is 24 and studying to become a Family and Marriage Therapist. I also have an adorable dog named Phoebe.

 Bringing Choose Love into my classroom was a life-changing way to be able to prioritize Social Emotional Learning, while not adding anything else to my already bulging day. One of my passions is to help others find ways to incorporate this essential resource simply and easily into their daily lives.